Ch.114Chapter 114 – The Hound of the Baskervilles (2)

The three women, after having a deep discussion about whether to go confront Issac Adler who had deceived them or wait for him at the mansion, decided on the latter.

“This way.”

“………”

Thus, guided by the butler who had been waiting for them, they crossed the path and arrived right in front of the Baskerville mansion.

“It’s cleaner inside than I expected.”

“…Indeed. It looks a bit old from the outside.”

Watson and Lestrade expressed surprise at the unexpectedly neat interior of the mansion as the butler personally opened the door for them.

“It’s well-maintained for a house passed down through generations. As expected of a noble family.”

“………”

“But I heard this mansion had been abandoned for several years recently.”

Meanwhile, Sharlotte Holmes addressed the butler with a sharp voice.

“…Why is it so well-maintained?”

As she raised her tone questioningly, the butler, who had been bowing with the door open, quietly lifted his head.

“Until recently, it was used as a vacation home.”

“…Does that mean it won’t be used as a vacation home anymore?”

“That’s correct.”

She answered in a monotone voice.

“The heir to the mansion will be returning soon.”

“…I see.”

At that simple and clear answer, Sharlotte nodded quietly and stepped forward.

“I heard that due to the Curse on the mansion, the family members no longer live here.”

“………”

“I suppose the heir doesn’t mind such things?”

But after taking a few steps, she paused, turned her head slightly, and asked another question.

“It’s merely superstition.”

“That’s the most unfitting statement in a world where superstitions and irrationality have become everyday reality.”

Sharlotte replied to the butler’s prompt answer with a voice tinged with amusement, scanning the interior with sharp eyes as she walked.

“…I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

After sighing while watching her walk away, Watson quietly approached the butler and whispered.

“She’s naturally sharp like that. Please understand.”

“…It’s nothing.”

The butler’s expression as he bowed his head in response was so gloomy and cold that Watson, who had apologized first, flinched.

“………”

Not only that, but the overall atmosphere of the mansion spread out before them was equally so.

From the decorations and paintings adorning the large mansion to the wallpaper and the color of the lamps.

And even the servants and maids standing quietly behind the butler with their heads bowed all exuded a dark and strange atmosphere without exception.

“…Let’s go inside too.”

“Ah, yes…”

Slightly overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Watson followed Lestrade, feeling somewhat relieved by her nonchalant voice.

‘As long as the inspector is here, nothing will happen…’

She had never been so envious of the police officer’s curse that easily nullified any irrationality and strangeness.

Actually, at that level, shouldn’t it be called a “blessing” rather than a curse?

But people with curses all shared the common trait of hating their own curses terribly, no matter how good the additional effects were, so she swallowed those words.

“…So.”

Once all three had entered the mansion’s guest reception room and sat down, Sharlotte was the first to speak.

“Ms. Holmes. For now, please restrain yourself a bit…”

“What is your relationship with Issac Adler?”

“………”

Lestrade, who had tried to stop her mid-sentence to avoid causing more trouble, closed her mouth at that question and glanced at the butler.

“…Just the relationship between a mansion caretaker and a guest visiting a vacation home.”

As the butler, who had been watching them quietly, answered in a low voice, Sharlotte leaned her head forward.

“Is that true? Not a secret lover, ex-girlfriend, hidden fiancée, or…”

“Excuse me, but you’re quite rude.”

“I apologize.”

Watson hurriedly grabbed the back of Sharlotte’s neck, bowed in apology, and shot a look at Lestrade beside her as if to say “what are you doing?”

“…If none of those, perhaps you’re Professor Moriarty’s confidant.”

“What are you doing, Inspector? You should be keeping your senses at times like this.”

“Or perhaps the heir is…”

“…Sigh.”

But as even she muttered with a somewhat anxious expression, Watson shook her head with a deep sigh.

“Do you both like Issac Adler that much…”

“Well, it doesn’t matter if that’s not the case. It’s a bit surprising, but thinking about it, what’s been strange is everything up until now.”

Sharlotte interrupted Watson’s muttering, crossing her legs as she spoke.

“Anyway, there’s something I’d like to hear from someone involved.”

“…Are you addressing me, Sharlotte Holmes?”

“You seem to know me.”

“It would be harder to find someone in present-day England who doesn’t know you.”

As the butler nodded quietly and said this, Sharlotte sighed and muttered.

“…Sometimes I miss the days when I could openly roam London and crimes would happen right next to me.”

“Holmes, you shouldn’t miss such times.”

“You’re quite talkative today, Watson.”

Then, after giving Watson a slightly grumpy look, she turned her gaze back to the butler.

“Anyway, I’d like to hear about the legends related to this mansion’s ancestors.”

“…As I said earlier, that’s just superstition.”

“Rumors and legends don’t just spring up out of nowhere. There’s always an originating incident.”

The butler’s eyes darkened at those words.

“It seems today’s detectives investigate even matters from 200 years ago.”

“…Not necessarily.”

But Sharlotte Holmes met her gaze with a relaxed expression.

“I have a personal hypothesis I’ve been investigating recently. The folklore of this family might help complete that hypothesis.”

“Is that so.”

“So would you please tell me?”

In the midst of the eerily cold atmosphere flowing between the two.

“…I’ll explain that part.”

A cheerful voice came from behind them.

“So would you please stop tormenting this cute butler?”

The three women’s eyes simultaneously glazed over at the appearance of Issac Adler, who was dripping blood as if he’d been beaten up somewhere again.

.

.

.

.

.

“It’s really nothing serious this time.”

“………”

“I just got hit by a carriage on the road. Haha.”

The three women stared blankly for a while at Adler, who was cheerfully wrapping bandages brought by the butler around his body.

“I have many things I want to ask or hear, but…”

Sharlotte, the first among them to regain her composure, addressed him in a low voice.

“Let’s start with that legend story.”

“I didn’t know Ms. Holmes was so interested in superstitions and legends.”

“………”

“…Alright. I’ll tell you if that’s what you want. Why are you looking at me so coldly?”

After muttering with an interested expression, Adler quietly lowered his tail at Sharlotte and Lestrade’s cold gazes.

“This happened about 200 years ago.”

Just as he was about to open his mouth, ignoring the dark gaze of the butler watching him from the side.

– Creeeeak…

The sound of a door opening came from behind them.

“Who are you people?”

Silence fell over the room as a pale-faced, dignified-looking girl appeared.

“This is…?”

“…This is Miss Helen Baskerville. She recently returned from Canada as the heir to this mansion.”

“Ah…”

The three women looked at her with wary expressions, becoming even more cautious after the butler’s explanation.

“I believe I made myself clear.”

But instead, she looked at them with a cold gaze and began whispering to the butler in a frigid voice.

“I told you to throw that person out by today.”

“…But, miss. That person has the right to reside in this mansion for the next few weeks.”

“What did you say?”

“While you are the heir, you haven’t yet received the inheritance from the master. However, Mr. Adler has formally concluded a lodging contract with the master.”

“Haah…”

Upon hearing this, she sighed, holding her head in her hands.

“…When your vacation period ends, leave immediately.”

“I was planning to do so anyway.”

“I don’t want to have someone like you in this mansion for even one more second.”

After saying this, she gave Adler a look of disgust and left the room.

“…I think you’re all forgetting something.”

A somewhat satisfied voice was heard in front of the three women who were staring blankly at the scene.

“It’s true that I maintain intimate relationships with half of London’s women, but I’m terribly hated by the other half.”

After saying this, Adler glanced at Zia Lestrade and added.

“…Despite the 50 percent probability, it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve met someone like that after Ms. Lestrade.”

After finishing his words and looking around at the three silent women for a moment, Adler.

“Anyway, shall we get back to the main point?”

He quietly raised the corner of his mouth and began to continue the story he was about to tell earlier.

“…This happened 200 years ago.”

The legend of the Baskerville family’s curse, which would cause tremendous ripples within just a few days.

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at that time.

“Ugh, uugh…”

The current owner of the Baskerville mansion, Baronet Sir Charles Baskerville, was backing away with an expression full of terror.

– Grrrr…..

“Ugh, aah…”

He had encountered a strange creature with glowing blue eyes while out for a walk on the moor.

“Aaaaaahhh!!”

Shortly after, the moor was stained with blood along with a scream.